Christmas Presents topic!

I am not really interested in presents anymore, too old for that :)
But I did get the best present I have ever had from my girlfriend yesterday...
Having her love is all I need and could ever want.

A new computer chair...a great gift when I consider how much time I spend in this thing.

Some money
Vegan Bodybuilding and Fitness gym bag, sweat bands, tote bag and tank top.
Some clothes from The Hempest
A Vitamix Blender
TRX Suspension Trainer
Visa Gift Card
Gift Certificate to American Apparel
Two vegan cookbooks
A new watch
 

I got a Zoom H4n recorder, new microphone stand, a custom wall-clock made from a Pink Floyd vinyl record, a bunch of clothes, vouchers, etc.
 

Christmas is a big deal to my family, and we pretty much go all-out. This is what the entire family got me, not just one person:
 
32GB iPad 2 (WiFi, no 3G)
iTunes Gift Card
Barnes & Noble Gift Card
Electric Blanket (yum!)
Star Wars - the entire Blu-Ray Set
An original Rancor Keeper Star Wars Figure (French - he's hanging on my wall right now) (this was from my sister, who, one year, gave me the ENTIRE Teen Titans comic series, including a #1 signed by Wolfman and Perez!)
Breakfast Club Blu-Ray
St. Elmo's Fire Blu-Ray
Red Sox Tickets (vs Blue Jays in September)
$100 cash
Four English Premier League Pint glasses (Chelsea, Liverpool, West Ham United, and Arsenal - and I will not insult beer by putting it in the Arsenal glass, it's for water only)
A six-pack of Dogfish Indian Brown Ale
A Gritty's Pale Ale (large bottle)
Two Beer T-Shirts, one from Shipyard Brewing and one from Gritty's
Book: 1001 Beers to Drink Before You Die
The Beer-A-Day Calendar
A sign for my ManTown: "Beer - it's not just for dinner anymore" (if you can't tell, I like beer)
Some man-smelling stuff
Some clothes, including a new outfit from my wife and socks/shirts/etc from family members.
Food-related items, like a box full of soups including a soup cookbook (and beer-and-cheddar soup!), candy, etc.

I got one of those little duel rotor  RC helicopters. Been flying it all around the house. My cat hates it.
 
Merry Christmas all.

My wife got me Tony Iommi's autobiography "Iron Man" and "The Walking Dead Compendium I".  I can't wait to read them.      

Steve Jobs Bio
Skyrim
Itunes Cards
Flight home and back to college for Christmas break
Money(including Canada's new Plastic 100 dollar bill)

iPhone 4s, drumsticks, Nixon watch, car stereo and subwoofer w/ powercap and amp, clothes, a handgun (glock 17), Sky Rim, and Assassins Creed Revelations! Best Christmas yet.

I went all out on my friends.
 
I gave a $25 Guitar Center gift card and a coffee thermos to my friend at school.  Gave some adorable lampwork/sterling silver pig earrings and a $25 American Express card to a friend from orchestra.  Gave a $75 Forever 21 gift card to my best friend in TX.
 
And for the family, a WWI airplane simulator computer game for my dad (he's obsessed with them!) as well as a couple of Angry Birds dolls (he loves that game too!).  Gave an electric heated foot massager to my mom, and bought my brother a t-shirt that says "Trust me, I'm an engineer", as well as a new cell phone case.
 
And as for me?  My parents bought me a new computer, HP Envy Beats edition, my friend from orchestra gave me two bags of chocolate covered pecans, and my brother bought me a Swiss Army brand laptop suitcase.  My violin also got a complete set-up and makeover, in that it got a new bridge made, new soundpost made, and the neck was raised, a $1500 job.
 
All in all, a great Christmas for giving and receiving.

Violin, I know you were considering a $50 or $100 gift card to Forever 21 for your friend.. funny that you went halfway between that! haha
 
I have a bunch of gift cards (iTunes, Amex, Finish Line, Vintage Vinyl Record Store, Gamestop, Target), a bunch of new Giants and Yankees gear, and some Timberland boots. It has definitely been a great weekend with the family, and a Giants win on Saturday.

-Yamaha electric/acoustic guitar
-New baseball mitt
-Lots of nice new clothes (from my girlfriend)
 
And some delicious food (including some AMAZING cheesecake)

Money
Gator bags for my drums
Heaven and Hell: My Life In The Eagles book by Don Felder
Money
FYE gift card
Applebees gift card
Local restaurant gift card
Electronic reading coin bank
Interactive drum shirt
Flannel shirt
couple pairs of drumsticks (one with Vic Grip, first time using grip sticks since Zildjian sticks 8 years ago)
Money
 
Can happily say I didn't really need anything, but can't complain
Today I spent my new earnings on this pretty girl
http://static.musiciansfr...tural_black_burst2.jpg
 
Now, if I was to list the things I bought for myself while Christmas shopping, I would probably be ashamed of myself

TRANSATLANTIC- MORE NEVER IS ENOUGH!!!!
 
Also I got "Kirby: Mass Attack" and "Kirby: Return to Dream Land."  Love Kirby, but there were so many other releases this year I ended up financially needing to overlook the little guy.

I helped my best friend's kids to get presents for her.  As happy as they were to be able to do something for their mom, I don't care if I never get another gift.  That's all I need.
 
Until tomorrow when I get my kids for a week.  That's really all I need.

So my present from the parents was a nice leather jacket - never had one before. I tried it on, and it was hilariously too small. I have an unwritten rule about not wearing tight leather.
 
So mum says she'll exchange it - I wasn't annoyed or anything, it happens. Today she woke me up to tell me the store doesn't have it in my size. So she's going to give me the money for it, and I can go buy my own jacket somewhere whenever I feel like it.

The salt in the wound is that it's technically my money - as if any of you who read my family debt thread knows, I gave them my student loan money to keep the household stable.
 
 
So my gift this Christmas is...my own money. Yay Christmas.

This may have been the most useless christmas I can remember as far as loot, but more importantly it was a crazy solid experience as far as family. I know this thread is about presents not people I just wanted to throw that in there so I don't seem like a whiner... cause I aint whining. 
 
I got the wrong video cable for a game system... so that's useless
 
My wife got this stupid "ice scraper inside a glove thing" And in a cute manner I of course made fun of her and it... then we went from her moms to my moms and my mom got her the same thing... and more importantly got MEEEEE one
 
I own a copy of a movie for sentimental value. It was a children's movie me and an uncle of mine used to watch when I was very little called milo and otis... I purchased a copy myself a few years ago, my aunt bought that for me...
 
My wifes parents must think im fat.... They always buy me nice shirts.... just 4 times bigger than what I need, this year was no exception...
 
I got one very useful thing, it was a rechargeable battery for my 360 controller and a cable to charge it with... awesome. They also got me Madden 2010 which is great, im sure they spent almost no money on it, as I hate knowing family spent a lot of money on video games... 

Haha that's a funny experience, DougMasters!  But it's the thought that counts :)
 
And you can use those shirts as work shirts for doing yardwork or something :D

ViolinTheater


Haha that's a funny experience, DougMasters!  But it's the thought that counts :)

And you can use those shirts as work shirts for doing yardwork or something :D

Knowing a thing or two about violin repair myself I'm curios where you had your work done...because $1500.00 is quite a bit for a new bridge and re-setting a neck...at least around here...
 
that being said...you probably have a pretty pricey box to begin with so it may totally be justifiable, I'm really just curious at this point.
 
also...what strings do you use and why?

DougMasters


This may have been the most useless christmas I can remember as far as loot, but more importantly it was a crazy solid experience as far as family. I know this thread is about presents not people I just wanted to throw that in there so I don't seem like a whiner... cause I aint whining. 

I got the wrong video cable for a game system... so that's useless

My wife got this stupid "ice scraper inside a glove thing" And in a cute manner I of course made fun of her and it... then we went from her moms to my moms and my mom got her the same thing... and more importantly got MEEEEE one

I own a copy of a movie for sentimental value. It was a children's movie me and an uncle of mine used to watch when I was very little called milo and otis... I purchased a copy myself a few years ago, my aunt bought that for me...

My wifes parents must think im fat.... They always buy me nice shirts.... just 4 times bigger than what I need, this year was no exception...

I got one very useful thing, it was a rechargeable battery for my 360 controller and a cable to charge it with... awesome. They also got me Madden 2010 which is great, im sure they spent almost no money on it, as I hate knowing family spent a lot of money on video games... 

Dude...I totally feel you on the "too-large" shirts thing!  
 
I also got a pretty nice Monster power strip...I asked for it on a lark figuring it was something I'd never buy but desperately need...and I am totally happy with it!
 
The only "fun" present my fiancé and I got was animal crossing for the wii...but it was taken by us...
 
my sister is sitting next to me and goes "are u sure that's yours?"  "we asked for that so I think it's ours"...my mom said she meant to give it to me but my sister made such a stink that we just forked it over....sheesh...merry Christmas!

@Taffer.  It *is* the thought that counts.  For decades I've been receiving gifts purchased for me with my own money.  I don't mind.  For me it's the fact that someone wanted to do something nice for me in the first place that counts.  Go easy on your mum, she's just trying to give you a gift at Christmas and it probably hurts her that she can't do more due to financial constraints.  Sometimes we do the wrong thing, like using borrowed money for gifts, to try and feel right when things are wrong.  I know, I've been there.  Anyway, Merry Christmas, and put 2011 behind you because 2012 will be better!

@WilliamMunny
Id love to get a look at that power strip. That sounds awesome.

I got two pairs of shoes. The first one, we noticed when we took them out of the box, had been worn. There was evidence of dirt in the soles and the heels were slightly worn. I hope no one committed a crime in them, or even worse, died in them!


The second pair looked good. I tried the left shoe on and it felt comfortable. I then attempted to try the right shoe and found that it was another left shoe!

Guess where I am going tomorrow?

The price range is fairly interesting with people posting from all over the world. 
i got 50 euro and a selection box.

Even though I opened it early, I got P90X:2 for Christmas along with some iTunes gift cards and some other little misc stuff.
 
It was cool to watch my little one go all nuts when she saw what Santa brought!

WilliamMunny

ViolinTheater


Haha that's a funny experience, DougMasters!  But it's the thought that counts :)

And you can use those shirts as work shirts for doing yardwork or something :D

Knowing a thing or two about violin repair myself I'm curios where you had your work done...because $1500.00 is quite a bit for a new bridge and re-setting a neck...at least around here...

that being said...you probably have a pretty pricey box to begin with so it may totally be justifiable, I'm really just curious at this point.

also...what strings do you use and why?

Re-setting a neck on a 35k violin is incredibly expensive because it required ungluing half of the top plate from the rest of the violin.  A new bridge plus a new soundpost, and also a planing of the fingerboard completed the job.
 
The job was done by Bill Monical in Staten Island; he is the true guru of violin repairs alive today.
 
I use Peter Infeld strings with a Gold Label E, but the new setup caused increased string tension (for better focus and clarity) so I JUST got home with some Evah Pirazzi's and a Kaplan Solutions E.

I got some cool shit this year..
 
22' in Paragon ride cymbal.
M-audio fast track
Ipad
Lands end shirts and stuff
My favorite puzzle from when I was a kid
Carvin 412 cab for the v3 i have had for 2 years and am yet to use..

Made out really well this year:
 
-Devin Townsend box set (to be shipped next week)
-Everlast Heavy bag + speed bag + stand
-UFC Encyclopedia coffee table book
-Western Digital WD TV media player
-Furman power conditioner
-guitar tuner
-Xbox games (Halo CE Anniversary, LA Noire, and Saint's Row the Third)
-Steven Wilson's Grace for Drowning cd
-Amazon gift cards
 

SeventhSon


@Taffer.  It *is* the thought that counts.  For decades I've been receiving gifts purchased for me with my own money.  I don't mind.  For me it's the fact that someone wanted to do something nice for me in the first place that counts.  Go easy on your mum, she's just trying to give you a gift at Christmas and it probably hurts her that she can't do more due to financial constraints.  Sometimes we do the wrong thing, like using borrowed money for gifts, to try and feel right when things are wrong.  I know, I've been there.  Anyway, Merry Christmas, and put 2011 behind you because 2012 will be better!

I agree, totally. Was in a sour mood that day, reading all the awesome stuff people got. I wouldn't have minded if we actually acted like a family, but nobody really tries. My brother spent 10 minutes in the house on the 25th. Came home from somewhere, exchanged gifts, went out again. Charming!
 
Thanks for the kind words too

I'm surprised I forgot to post here:

$100 visa gift card
Mini Flyer for the Porcupine Tree/Opeth 2003 US Tour *I got this as a present for the the radio show I did back on Christmas night, one of the coolest and caring gifts I have ever received.*

I didn't personally receive anything, but my daughter made out like a bandit.  I spent over $400 making sure she had a good Christmas.  I guess I'm overcompensating bc I'm a single dad -  I always go above and beyond for her. That's cool I guess.  It puts things in perspective when you do the giving and don't get to enjoy the receiving. I'd do it again in a heartbeat.     

I much prefer the non-material things I got this year--time spent with family, creating new traditions and just relaxing.

Criterion edition of "Night of the Hunter"
http://www.youtube.com/wa...K3VA&feature=share
 
and the Louis CK download